Disneyland Paris - Fin.

On Sunday March 10th we decided to hold off on breakfast until after we'd taken advantage of Extra Magic Hours.

Of course, Dumbo was our first stop and there was NO LINE. I walked straight on with Brayton and then B did too:

There was also no line on the Tea Cups. Brayton wanted to come with us and we figured we'd try one more ride with Pearson:

It was probably Pearson's favorite ride of the whole trip. Brayton also really enjoyed spinning the wheel:

Because the lines were so short and because Pearson was pulling us toward it, we decided to all go on the Carousel:

McColley was terrified:

We forced him to stay on a horse but Grandpa did stand by him the whole time. Once the ride got moving he finally realized that we were right - a real horse moves faster and is more unpredictable.

The last ride of our trip was one more spin around Autopia. But this time McColley drove Daddy and Brayton drove Grandpa:

After breakfast the boys got to say hello to Donald:

And Chip was hanging out in the lobby as we checked-out:

It was a great trip and the only bad part was dropping Grandma and Grandpa off at their hotel near the airport.

Un Autre Deux Jours á Disneyla.nd Paris

On Friday March 8th, Brayton and B left breakfast quickly to get into the park. They wanted to be the first ones in line for Dumbo.

McColley, Pearson and I followed them in a bit later but when we got to Dumbo we saw that it was closed again.

We wandered around the ride until Pearson got distracted by the ducks - he LOVES ducks. As we were standing there a sweet French boy gave McColley a bit of baguette to throw to the ducks for Pearson's enjoyment:

When the baguette was gone we forced Pearson to leave. Luckily he was excited to try and pull out Excalibur:

Eventually we gave up trying to find Brayton and B in Disne.yland and headed over to the entrance of Wa.lt Disne.y Studios where we had planned to meet Grandma and Grandpa.

We arrived at the entrance and found everyone waiting for us. As we entered the park we decided to head straight to Toy Story Land. The line for the Slinky Dog ride was short, so we forced everyone on.

McColley was not excited:

Neither was Pearson, actually. He screamed like we'd put him on a roller coaster the whole time.

He had a quicker recovery than McColley though from the traumatic experience:

After lunch we wandered back to Main Street. Paris' Main Street has a real live barber shop and both McColley and Brayton got their hair cut. Brayton was a bit scared:

But they both came out looking fabulous!

We decided to grab a quick dinner at Dis.ney Village because one of the three things we'd promised the boys they would get to do was there. At one of the shops you can build your own lightsaber!

After the lightsabers were made and dinner was eaten, it was time to battle!

On Saturday March 9th we decided to try Dumbo one last time.

And finally! Success!

We were so happy that Dumbo was working, I decided to take Pearson on it too. This was the last moment he was happy on the ride:

As soon as it started moving, he started screaming.

We made it up to him by taking him on one of his favorite rides next, Buzz Lightyear's Laser Blasters. All the kids LOVED that ride and we did it at least once a day.

Autopia is next to Laser Blasters, so McColley decided to give Grandma a ride:

And Brayton gave me an Arianna-style ride around the track:

We went to lunch and as we were eating Pearson fell asleep. I decided to take him back to the hotel while everyone else kept playing but as we headed towards the entrance, we ran into this:

Needless to say, Pearson woke up.

I did eventually get him back to the hotel and get him back asleep. When his nap was over we returned to the park.

Brayton made a request that I take him on Dumbo again. After all those days of it not working, I agreed despite the hour long line.

As soon as we were in the line, he begged me to pick him up. As soon as I did - this happened:

I had to wake him up to get onto the ride.

We got off the ride just in time to meet up with everyone at Walt's (a sit down restaurant on Main Street). We had made reservations so that we could have a bird's eye view of the special 20th Anniversary parade:

It was a great last full day at the park!

Bienvenue å Disneyl.and Paris!

On Wednesday March 6th we crammed seven people and five suitcases into our car and drove south. After a bit of an awkward crossing though the Chunnel and a bit more driving, we arrived at the Happiest French Place On Earth:

We got there a bit late but still managed to fit a few rides in before the park closed:

On Thursday March 7th we had breakfast at the hotel. Since we were staying at the D.isneyland Hotel, there were characters in the breakfast waiting area.

The boys were (sort of) excited to meet Mickey and Pluto:

Brayton and B immediately got into line to ride Dumbo while Grandma and Grandpa took care of getting us all Fast Passes for Peter Pan. That left Pearson, McColley and me free to ride the carousel:

Unfortunately Dumbo broke down just as Brayton and B got near the front of the line. So, we rode Peter Pan (which the kids did NOT enjoy) and then walked through the park.

I had to take the obligatory castle picture:

We had lunch and rode a few more rides. The boys requested we check out Alice's Curious Labyrinth.

Brayton and McColley took turns leading our group while all the adults did their best to keep Pearson on track:

We couldn't end our day without having a bit of pirate-y fun:

Or saying good-bye to Captain Jack Sparrow:

Luckily we still had a few more days of fun ahead!

Day Four In Disneyland Paris

Day Four started with breakfast in the park and us taking advantage of Extra Magic Hours. The only downside of Extra Magic Hours is that there aren't actually that many rides open.

We did 'Astro Blasters' but then had to think for a bit about what to do next:

Fortunately 'Dumbo' was running so Brayton got another flight in:

I was super excited to do the 'Tea Cups' however B and Pearson couldn't go on it because of a one year age minimum and then the two older boys spent the whole ride demanding that I keep the cup from spinning:

Our next stop was supposed to be 'Storybook Land' but it was frozen.

So we went to 'Autopia' instead. B and Brayton took the first ride:

Brayton drove the whole time despite the fact that their car broke down twice:

McColley then drove me around the course:

As we finished up driving it started to snow. It was one of those days that gets colder instead of warmer and we were basically all at the end of our coldness withstanding ability.

However, we did have to get 'Storybook Land' in one last time (once they got it unfrozen):

Our train departed Disneyland Paris at 6:02PM and got into London at 7:47PM. As we waited to go through customs Brayton used the boogie board to take a nap:

After an exceptionally long and frustrating trip home from London we let Brayton open one of his birthday presents before going to bed:

We also hung Brayton and Pearson's 2011 ornaments on the tree:

Brayton chose a light up Finn McMissile:

Pearson got a glass Mickey with an inscription on the back (Pearson's First Christmas 2011):

We had an amazing trip and the boys are already asking us when we get to go back!

Day Three and Brayton's Birthday In Disneyland Paris

Day Three started with a visit to Town Hall where Brayton got a Bon Anniversaire sticker to wear on his jacket and a birthday phone call from Mickey!

We then went outside and actually saw Mickey (unfortunately a mistimed bathroom break kept McColley from meeting Mickey too):

When we were done with Mickey we saw Goofy Santa climbing into his sleigh and this time McColley  did get to say hello:

As we walked into Fantasyland Brayton asked if he could ride one of the horseys for his birthday. As we boarded the carousel he changed his mind and decided to ride in the chariot with all of us:

While we were riding the carousel Brayton noticed Dumbo, so that was his next requested ride:

As we were walking around Fantasyland we decided to peak into the dragon's lair... the boys were not as excited as B and I:

Then it was time to hop on 'Small World' again. Pearson was ready to get his holiday cheer on:

As we continued to walk around we finally found Excalibur. Brayton got first try to pull it out:

McColley then made his brave attempt:

We then headed back over to Disney Studios and happened to make it just in time for the parade:

After watching 'Stitch Live!' again we went back to the hotel to rest. Unfortunately the only reservation we could get at Cafe Mickey was for 8:15PM. Also unfortunately the boys did not actually take a nap during our resting time.

But finally it was time for our reservation and when we got to our table the characters started coming fast and furious. First up was Geppetto... the boys didn't actually know who he was but they had been given a deck of Disney character cards, so they used those to figure out he was related to Pinocchio:

Next up was Pluto... who scared Brayton:

Chip got the best reaction from Pearson:

Tigger finally got McColley to notice him by doing a bit of bouncing around:

Stitch attempted to play with Brayton... but it didn't work:

By the time Eeyore came around Brayton was in a defensive Daddy Lap position:

A position he maintained when Mickey delivered his birthday cake:

Goofy and Mickey then helped sing him a birthday song:

Unfortunately the cake came at 10PM and we were too tired and too full to eat it, so it got boxed up and brought back to our hotel room: